Overview:
A Peer Supporter with Badge of Life Canada plays a crucial role in providing emotional and psychological support to Public Safety Personnel (police officers, firefighters, paramedics, correctional officers, nurses, military personnel) and their families who are experiencing operational stress injuries (OSI) such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Peer Supporters create a safe, confidential, and empathetic space for individuals to share their experiences, challenges, and feelings without judgment. Through lived experience and understanding, they help others navigate mental health challenges, build resilience, and find a path to recovery.

Key Responsibilities:

• Offer Emotional Support: Provide a non-judgmental and compassionate environment for individuals to express their feelings and challenges.
• Active Listening: Use active listening skills to understand the concerns of participants, ensuring they feel heard and validated.
• Share Lived Experience: Draw upon personal experiences in the public safety or military field (or from supporting a loved one in this field) to connect with participants, offering hope and encouragement.
• Promote Mental Wellness Resources: Help participants access additional mental health resources and services as needed, including therapy, counseling, and Badge of Life Canada’s educational programs.
• Confidentiality: Maintain the confidentiality of all discussions and interactions in accordance with Badge of Life Canada's policies.
• Collaborate with Professionals: Work closely with mental health professionals, facilitators, and the Badge of Life Canada team to ensure participants receive the best possible support.
• Provide Crisis Intervention: Recognize signs of crisis in participants and, if necessary, escalate the situation to appropriate professionals for further intervention.

Training and Support:
Badge of Life Canada provides comprehensive training to all Peer Supporters. Our training program equips you with the tools and skills needed to effectively support individuals dealing with operational stress injuries. This includes training in:

• Active listening techniques
• Crisis intervention and de-escalation
• Recognizing signs of OSI and PTSD
• Confidentiality and ethical boundaries
• Best practices for peer support in a public safety context

Ongoing support and supervision will be provided to ensure Peer Supporters have access to guidance and resources while serving in their roles.

Qualifications:

• Lived experience as a Public Safety Personnel, military member, or as a family member of someone in these roles.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to actively listen.
• Empathy, patience, and a non-judgmental attitude.
• Commitment to confidentiality and ethical standards.
• Willingness to participate in all required training sessions.

Commitment:
Peer Supporters are asked to dedicate time to facilitate or participate in peer support meetings, either virtually or in person, on a regular basis (typically weekly or bi-weekly). Flexibility in schedule is important, as meetings may vary depending on participant needs.

Impact:
As a Peer Supporter with Badge of Life Canada, you will play a vital role in helping individuals and families cope with the challenges of operational stress injuries. Your support can make a meaningful difference in their mental health journey, providing them with hope, strength, and a path toward healing.

Would you like to join a community that is helping individuals to leave poverty behind?

Led by YWCA Muskoka, Circles® Muskoka is a community collaborative committed to the reduction of poverty by harnessing the power of relationships. Circles® Muskoka helps families and individuals (Circle Leaders) living on lower income and in poverty by assisting them to increase their resources; reasons and relationships to move from surviving to thriving in their lives.

Benefits

Growing your professional network
Feeling like you are making a difference
A sense of meaning and purpose
Supporting others to reach their goals
Participating in personal development workshops
Strengthening your interpersonal and communication skills
Becoming part of a community and sharing a meal 3 evenings a month
Making new friends and having fun!

Responsibilities 

• Maintain confidentiality
• Be an active listener and offer support and encouragement when appropriate
• Provide encouragement towards meeting goals
• Build meaningful relationships with Leaders
• Share life experiences and advice when asked

Role requirements

• Attend at least one Circles meeting per month
• Pass a police background check
• Attend a Bridges out of Poverty’ workshop and Ally training session
• Being open to building friendships across economic lines

Help us keep kids close to home! Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions is looking for Foster Care Providers! 
 
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions is a Child Welfare (Simcoe & Muskoka) and Children’s Mental Health (Muskoka only) agency licensed by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. We support children, youth, families and communities with multiple services including fostering for children and youth up to 18 years old.  
 
Our agency has an urgent need for foster care providers across Simcoe and Muskoka. We are looking for diverse caregivers who understand children’s needs. Children & Youth lose so much when they have to leave their community. Foster caregivers provide a safe home and a temporary solution for children and youth, while their families make the changes needed for them to come back home. 
 
Would you consider opening your home and heart to providing care to youth and children? Fostering can be challenging, but it’s a very rewarding career. You don’t have to be perfect to make a difference in the life of a child. Fostering can be flexible and fit in with your lifestyle! 
 
We encourage all applicants to apply regardless of sex, gender, marital status, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, orientation or religion.  
 
Our application process, training and support will prepare you for your fostering journey. We find that all successful foster parents believe that the rewards of fostering, including building strong, loving relationships that last a lifetime, far outweigh the challenges involved. We offer a rate of $85/$155 a day per child to help support the cost of raising healthy, happy children and youth. Please inquirer today!
 
We look forward to hearing from you! Please share with anyone you think might be interested!

• Escort residents to the hair salon within Trillium and return them to their home area
• Assist with tasks such as removing curlers
• Sweeping and other hair salon type duties

• Attending activities, programs, and/or events with residents
• One-on-one visits with residents; spending time chatting, playing card games, doing puzzles, crafts
• Accompanying them on walks either within the building or outdoors (weather permitting)
• Miscellaneous duties as needed

• Participate in the operation of the shelter (shifts - evening, night, breakfast)
• Carry out the many tasks required for the seamless functioning of the shift/program.
• Interact with guests throughout the duration of the shift (unless it’s quiet/sleep hours).

Recreational Therapy Volunteer: Assists our Recreational Therapist with a wide range of hands-on activities including individual and group-based games, art projects, equine learning, life skills and a variety of outdoor recreational activities. Horse interaction will occur as  well as assisting & working alongside participants. No horse experience required. 

Unmounted Horse Leader: Assists in preparing, grooming and leading the horse at the same time as the participant. You will interact with horses and participants. Horse experience an asset, we will train you.

Side Walker: Walks beside the horse and participant providing support and stability. Involves a good deal of walking. No horse experience required, we will train you.

Mounted Horse Leader: Assists the participant in preparing the horse for the lesson & may involve leading the horse during the lesson depending on the participant's ability.  Involves a good deal of walking and at times short bouts of jogging with the horse. Horse experience required.

Volunteers would be responsible for stocking shelves, cleaning the store, re-organizing items, aseembling product, and assisting customers. Volunteers who are interested should visit the website to register to volunteer. 
 
Volunteers must wear certified safety shoes, be capable of lifting up to 25lbs, able to stand for extended periods of time and be comfortable with 2-3 step instruction.

About Bridget’s Bunnies

Bridget's Bunnies is a registered charity that supports individuals and families who have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss. Bridget’s Bunnies works to ensure no one endures pregnancy or infant loss alone. Bridget’s Bunnies relies on volunteers, individual donations, Bridget’s Run and grants to sustain its programs and services including Comfort Kits and Little Loss Library. 

Title: Bunny Makers

If you’re a crafter or knitter, join our community of Bunny Makers for a good cause! Bunny Makers meet monthly to chat and crochet together from 4:00-6:00 pm at Bridget’s Bunnies office (65 Cedar Pointe Dr. unit 811A, Barrie). This is also a time to refresh knitting/crocheting supplies and continue crocheting in the comfort of your own home. Bunny Maker volunteers make Pocket Pals, crocheted or knitted bunnies for our Comfort Kit program. All materials are provided for free of charge and we ask that finished bunnies and unused materials be donated back to Bridget’s Bunnies. 

Hours: 2-10 hours a month (flexible)
Location: In-person/remote

Roles and Responsibilities:

•    Crochet or knit a bunny/pocket pal according to Bridget’s Bunnies patterns and instructions
•    Only take what you need and ensure to return any unused supplies
•    Return completed bunnies within a month of completion as these bunnies are needed for the Comfort Kit program
•    Opportunity to join the online community to share tips, tricks and make fellow crafter friends
•    Opportunity to gather monthly for an in-person tea, chat and crocheting event at Bridget’s Bunnies office. 

About Bridget’s Bunnies

Bridget's Bunnies is a registered charity that supports individuals and families who have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss. Bridget’s Bunnies works to ensure no one endures pregnancy or infant loss alone. Bridget’s Bunnies relies on volunteers, individual donations, Bridget’s Run and grants to sustain its programs and services including Comfort Kits and Little Loss Library. 

Title: Comfort Kit Organizer

Reporting to the Development Coordinator, the Comfort Kit Organizer is responsible for organizing, assembling and tracking Comfort Kits. Comfort Kits are provided for free to individuals and families who experience pregnancy or infant loss. They offer gentle direction and compassion in the days and weeks following loss. On demand Comfort Kits, ordered through the website are processed and shipped within a 2-week period. Hospital Comfort Kits and processed and shipped quarterly. 

Hours: 2-4 hours a week; Tuesday – Thursday between the hours of 10:00 – 3:00 pm. 
Location: In-person; Bridget’s Bunnies Office 65 Cedar Pointe Dr. unit 811A, Barrie

Roles and Responsibilities:

•    Keep volunteer room clean and organized
•    Pack kits according to orders and keep kits restocked
•    Track supplies and inform Development Coordinator when supplies are low
•    Strong attention to detail required
•    Must be organized, methodical and a great communicator
•    Enjoys working independently and collaboratively
•    Other administrative tasks as assigned

Across the country, the Gutsy Walk is made possible due to the time and talents shared by thousands of volunteers in their communities. With a collective goal to deliver our mission of finding a cure for Crohn's and colitis, we are greatly appreciative and thankful for our volunteers who have continuously led the Gutsy Walk to success each year.

As a Gutsy Walk Planning Committee Member, you’ll be working closely with a team of other volunteers to plan and promote your local Gutsy Walk. Your efforts in connecting and engaging your community—whatever your volunteer role with Gutsy Walk—will make a big impact in raising awareness about IBD and finding cures.
In particular, we’re looking for volunteers to support their local Gutsy Walk in the following ways:

• Community Outreach –inspire people to sign up and participate in the local Gutsy Walk
• Media Relations –connect with local media outlets to promote the Gutsy Walk
• Social Media –raise awareness about IBD and the Gutsy Walk through social media
• Fundraising –organize exciting fundraisers in your community
• Corporate Sponsorship –engage with local businesses to promote donations of sponsorship and gifts in kind
• Stewardship –build relationships with Gutsy Walk participants and encourage engagement

The IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's is our biggest fundraising event for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. There are many volunteer opportunities leading up to the event, as well as on the day of.

Help before the walk: Duties include envelope stuffing for mailout, calling past walkers, walk committee, and poster distribution.

Help on day of the walk: Duties include set up of tables, set up route signs, registration table, pet area, kid zone, food and beverage table, first aid station, and tear down.

There are two walks available in Muskoka to participate in: 

• Memorial Park, Bracebridge- Saturday, May 25, 2024, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
• River Mill Park, Huntsville- Sunday, May 26, 2024, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

For more information, please contact Michelle Dear at 705-645-5621 Ext. 115 or walk@alzheimermuskoka.ca

This is a volunteer opportunity with the Alzheimer Society of Muskoka for the Minds in Motion® program.

Minds in Motion® is a community-based social program that incorporates physical and mental stimulation for people with early to mid-stage signs of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias and their care partners.

• Minds in Motion® is an eight-week program delivered once weekly that combines physical activity with mental stimulation, in a social environment.
• The program is delivered at Municipal Recreation Centres, Older Adult Centres or similar multi-service centres to help normalize the experience for participants.
• The program was developed in British Columbia and results indicate improved physical and mental health for both people with dementia and their care partner.
• Minds in Motion® is not a fitness program, a social recreation program or a drop-in program.

Tasks/Responsibilities:

• Help with the set up and clean up of refreshments, games and activities for the program
• Assist the Minds in Motion® Coordinator to ensure activity participation and socialization. This may include spending one-on-one time with participants who need extra support.
• Under the direction of the Physical Activity Program Leader, provide one-on-one support to participants during the physical activity component of the program
• Assist with any other required tasks

Qualifications:

• Enjoy working with others, comfortable initiating conversation and including others
• Patient, friendly and fun; comfortable in a non-competitive, inclusive environment
• Have some experience communicating with older adults
• Be physically able to participate in the physical activity component of the program
• Commit to program at 8 week intervals
• Organized and pay attention to detail
• Reliable and able to follow instructions

Assets:

• Aware of the aging process
• Have basic knowledge and experience with dementia – training will be provided
• Experience working with persons with dementia and their care partners
• Physical activity or therapeutic recreation background

Time commitment:

• Three hours/week for eight-ten weeks:
• 30 minute set up, 2 hour program, 30 minute take down, clean up and de-brief.
• Programs run at least three times per year – trained volunteers are encouraged to return to assist with programs held throughout the year.

Orientation/training:

Volunteers will receive:

• Orientation to local Alzheimer Society and volunteer policies and procedures (approximately one hour)
• Orientation to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias (approximately three hours)
• Orientation to Minds in Motion® and specific role (approximately one hour)
• Access to Society’s more advanced dementia training (if applicable)

Supervision:

There will be on site supervision and de-briefing lead by the Minds in Motion® Coordinator.

A Police Records Check/Vulnerable Sector Screening is required for all volunteers. For those under the age of 18, parental or guardian approval is required.

We are looking for passionate, dedicated volunteers to assist with Creative Arts Programs held in Midland and Barrie. No artistic experience needed! Duties include assisting with set up, conversation and providing guidance during the program.

Help Senior Wish expand into Simcoe County to ensure that no senior is left isolated, alone and feeling like society has forgotten them. Help is especially needed to prepare for our Christmas Wish program starting in Sept.

Looking for dedicated enthusiastic people that enjoy the natural environment of our camp. 

Matheson Creek Camp Volunteers can be involved in various activities including :

• General Labour
• Trail maintenance
• Teamwork Days at camp for special projects/events
• Wood cutting & splitting for sites
• Site maintenance
• Fund Raising activities
• Marketing assistance
• Working at Bingo as a volunteer 2 hours per month
• Grass cutting with provided equipment
• Constuction Projects
• Site spring Cleaning and fall closing activities
• Board Member volunteer positions 
• Students requiring volunteer hours for school welcome